RSPCA Moves to Mandate Dog Walking

It's incredible how many people take the ownership of a pet so lightly so I do think something needs to be done.

They purchase a pet and then find that they do not have the time or the inclination to look after it properly. Dogs in particular need to be walked daily, more so if they are living in a small yard or without a yard. The RSPCA has proposed punishments for dog owners who do not walk their dog at least once a day, with penalites of upto 12,000 for a first offence and potentially jail for a second offence on the grounds of cruelty. The artical was published today RSPCA Proposed "mandates on dog walking"

The implications of this are massive and I have mixed thoughts and lots of questions. Will the same laws be relevant for people with large yards where dogs can get lots of excerice?  Whilst it may make people think twice before owning a dog, how will they police this and prove it? Is jail the right answer for such breaches? Do you have any thoughts or opinions on this?